At twenty-one, Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Natty, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Catholic mother and Jewish father. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up in a gas station mini-mart and falling in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who willingly steps between the armed robber and her son.

Shandi doesn't know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It’s been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn't define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, in a funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness,; about a virgin birth, a sacrifice, and a resurrection; about falling in love, and learning that things aren't always what they seem—or what we hope they will be. It’s a novel about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.My Thoughts:

The synopsis is correct. This book is charming, and poignant. It's also laugh-out-loud funny at times and boo-hoo-hoo sad at other times.I've recently realized that I'm a fan of black humor. I find it a brilliant way to discuss a heavy subject. Someone Else's Love Story contains quite a bit of dark comedy to wonderful effect. This book tackles some of the gloomiest subjects you can think of but I came away from reading it with a smile on my face. I don't think that's an easy feat for an author. Kudos to Joshilyn Jackson for making it happen.I wouldn't call this the perfect book. There were a few too many things going on to make my best of the year list. All in all it was a very good read and the opening sentence is one of the best I've ever read.

Black humor and dark comedy...yes!! My favorite kind. I have this next on my pile and now I couldn't be more thrilled. It will be my first Jackson which is a damn shame since she lives about 15 minutes away.

This sounds very funny, the summary gives you a really good idea of the sort of book it is. Black humour when done well works, too. Heavy books are good, but I've often found that comedy doesn't lessen the effect either.

I've been wanting to read this one, and you make me want to run to the bookstore and buy a copy right now--or maybe download it to my Kindle. I've yet to read a Jackson book, which is a crime, I know, but someday I will and I'm sure I'll love her work. I hope.

I've been curious about this book - I keep seeing it in bookshops but I hadn't had a chance to stop and pick it up to read about it. I'm not sure that it'd be quite my kind of story, though. Sounds a bit... busy? And funny me, but I didn't recognise the author and thought this was a debut! God where've I been?!

I loved the first sentence too! I also agree that her ability to leave a reader happy while also making them think about some tough topics is very impressive. I often avoid books with dark themes, but I really enjoyed this book anyway. Great review Jennifer :)